Minimally invasive spine surgery instruments: spinal rod with flange

ABSTRACT

The present invention provides for a bone fixation device, illustrated as a spinal rod, for use in bone fixation surgeries. The bone spinal rod of the present invention is constructed and arranged to allow a surgeon to control proper placement while prohibiting the rod from passing out of a receiving component. In an illustrative embodiment, the spinal rod includes comprises a first end, a second opposing end, and a main body there between. At least one end contains a flange.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

In accordance with 37 C.F.R. 1.76, a claim of priority is included in an Application Data Sheet filed concurrently herewith. Accordingly, the present invention claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/704,132, entitled “MINIMALLY INVASIVE SPINE SURGERY INSTRUMENTS”, filed Sep. 21, 2012. The contents of which the above referenced application is incorporated herein by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to instruments and implants used to treat various problems of the spine; to a spinal rod for use in surgical procedures of the spine; and more particularly to a spinal rod with a t least one flange attached thereto.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART

Minimally invasive spine surgery can be use to effectively treat disorders of the spinal discs with minimal muscle related injury. In many procedures, a surgeon makes several small incisions (percutaneous) wherein a miniature camera (usually a laparoscope or endoscope) is placed so the surgeon can view the procedure as a magnified image on video monitors in the operating room. Specialized instruments are placed through the incisions to perform various procedures. Minimally invasive spine surgery may include: Spinal fusion such as on degenerative disks; deformity corrections, such as for scoliosis; repair of herniated disks; repair and stabilization of vertebral compression fractures and decompression of spinal tumors to name a few. In certain cases of degenerative discs, scoliosis, kyphosis, spinal column tumors, infection, fractures and herniated discs, minimally invasive techniques may speed recovery, minimize post-operative pain and improve the final outcome.

Disclosed are various instruments and implants for use in minimally invasive surgical operations.

SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

The invention disclosed is directed to various instruments and implants used in minimally invasive spine surgery. Disclosed is a spinal rod having at lest one flange. The spinal rod with flange as described herein provides advantages over the current spinal rods in that the spinal rods currently in use are made in multiple lengths to accommodate patients with individual construct length requirements. Moreover, the spinal rods are typically round with a constant diameter from end to end. When placed in placing the rods into the receiving components often the view is obstructed by tissue in the wound and proper alignment is difficult to assess and control. It is common that a surgeon will select a rod size unnecessarily long to ensure a margin of error and adequate engagement. The extra length can cause discomfort to the patient as well as other complications both intra and post operatively. If a rod is too short for the construct length, loosening can occur over time leading to disassembly of the construct and result in the need for reoperation. The present invention overcomes these shortcomings through the inclusion of the flanges at least one end.

Objectives, advantages and benefits associated with these inventions will be apparent to those skilled in the art from the description and drawings which follow.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a front view of an illustrative embodiment of a spinal rod with at least one flange;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the spinal rod with flanges illustrated in FIG. 1 secured to pedicle screw assemblies;

FIG. 3 is an alternative top perspective view of the spinal rod with flanges illustrated in FIG. 1 secured to pedicle screw assemblies;

FIG. 4 is an alternative perspective view of the spinal rod with flanges illustrated in FIG. 1 secured to pedicle screw assemblies;

FIG. 5A is a front plane view of a flange rod embodiment;

FIG. 5B is a perspective view of FIG. 5A;

FIG. 6 is an alternative embodiment of embodiment of the spinal rod with a least one flange;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the spinal rod with flanges illustrated in FIG. 6 secured to pedicle screw assemblies;

FIG. 8 is an alternative top perspective view of the spinal rod with flanges illustrated in FIG. 6 secured to pedicle screw assemblies;

FIG. 9 is an alternative perspective view of the spinal rod with flanges illustrated in FIG. 6 secured to pedicle screw assemblies;

FIG. 10 shows the interaction between an illustrative example an insertion tool and the spinal rod in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 11 is a blown up version of the interaction insertion tool and the spinal rod.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring to FIGS. 1-5B, set forth is a bone fixation device, illustrated herein as a spinal rod 10. The spinal rod 10 comprises a first end 12, a second opposing end 14, and a main body 16 there between. The main body 16 is preferably elongated having a generally cylindrical shape constructed and arranged to secure to a plurality of bone screw anchors, such as pedicle screw assemblies 18 and 20. In one embodiment, the main body 16 may be linear. Alternatively, the main body 16 may have a predetermined curvature. As used herein, the term pedicle screw assembly is used to define and/or describe commonly used orthopedic or spinal surgical instrumentation. While many embodiments of a pedicle screw exist commercially, the typical pedicle screw assembly consists generally of the pedicle screw 22 containing a threaded portion 24 which is inserted into a bone or spinal vertebrae. Connected to the screw is a housing unit 26 having upwardly shaped arms 28 and 30 which form a U-shape unit. The housing unit is generally constructed to receive a longitudinal or spinal rod, such as the spinal rod 10. The longitudinal or spinal rod is set to the housing through use of a set screw (not illustrated) which can be designed to screw into a threaded portion of the housing to lock the rod into place. This general construction scheme allows the surgeon to connect and secure adjacent bones together through use of the pedicle screw assembly, thereby providing stability temporarily until the bones heal or, if needed, permanently. The main body 16 may contain a longitudinal marking 33. The marking 33 may be sized to extend the entire length from the first end 12 to second end 14, or any length in between.

Positioned at the first end 12 of the spinal rod 10 is a first flange 34. Positioned at the second end 14 of the spinal rod 10 is a second flange 36. In use, the main body 16 can be used to connect and lock the bone screw anchors, such as pedicle screw assemblies 18 and 20, together for correcting and treating spinal disorders. Each flange 34 and 36 is of a dimension that it will not pass through the aperture of the receiving component. Referring to FIGS. 5A and 5B, the spinal rod main body 16 is shown secured to the pedicle screw assembly 18. Preferably, the dimension of the flange, such as the diameter length 38 is larger than the slot dimension 40 of a set screw head 42. The use of the spinal rod 10 with flanges 34 and 36, particularly with the flanges dimensioned so it will not pass through the aperture of the receiving component, provide a user, i.e., a surgeon, to control proper placement and allows for reassurance that the shortest possible rod can be used. Such feature therefore, eliminates the complications associated with excessive rod overhang. In addition, the flanges 34 and 36 prevent the rod from retreating into an unsecure position. While ach flange 34 and 36 prohibits the spinal rod 10 from passing out of the receiving component, it is still possible to compress the components (i.e., screw heads) together prior to locking the components.

Referring to FIGS. 6-9, an alternative embodiment of the bone fixation device, illustrated herein as a spinal rod 100, is illustrated. The spinal rod 100 comprises a first end 112, a second opposing end 114, and a main body 116 there between. The main body 116 is preferably elongated having a generally cylindrical shape constructed and arranged to secure to a plurality of bone screw anchors, such as the pedicle screw assemblies 18 and 20. In one embodiment, the main body 16 may be linear. Alternatively, the main body 116 may have a predetermined curvature.

Positioned at one end, i.e., the first end 112 of the spinal rod 100 is a flange 118. The flange 118 is constructed and arranged in the same manner as flanges 34 or 36, and therefore has the same features as previously described for flange 34 or 36. Accordingly, while the flange 118 prohibits the spinal rod 100 from passing out of a receiving component, it is still possible to compress the components (i.e. screw heads) together prior to locking the components. The opposing end, i.e. the second end 114 is constructed without a corresponding flange. Instead, the opposing end 114 is constructed to contain a tapered portion 120. The tapered portion 120 may end with a pointed tip 122 which aids the surgeon by providing a mechanism for pushing tissue to the side as the bone fixation device is maneuvered to its final resting position within a pedicle screw. The tapered portion 120 may contain an aperture 126. The aperture 126 is preferably located perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the spinal rod and is intended to provide visual indicator under fluoroscopy to assess and ensure proper rod length.

The end 112 with the flange 118 may also contain has an attachment feature designed to communicate with a tool for passing the rod percutaneously, illustrated herein as an insertion tool attachment portion 128. The insertion tool attachment portion 128 may contain an opening 130 sized and shaped to receive at least a portion of an insertion tool. FIGS. 10 and 11 depict an illustrative example of an insertion tool device 132. The insertion tool device has at least one end 134 that is configured to engage with the insertion tool attachment portion 128 of the spinal rod 100. For example, a portion of the insertion tool device 132 may be engageable with the opening 130 of the insertion tool attachment portion 128.

Detailed embodiments of the instant invention are disclosed herein, however, it is to be understood that the disclosed embodiments are merely exemplary of the invention, which may be embodied in various forms. Therefore, specific functional and structural details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but merely as a basis for the claims and as a representation basis for teaching one skilled in the art to variously employ the present invention in virtually any appropriately detailed structure.

All patents and publications mentioned in this specification are indicative of the levels of those skilled in the art to which the invention pertains. All patents and publications are herein incorporated by reference to the same extent as if each individual publication was specifically and individually indicated to be incorporated by reference.

It is to be understood that while a certain form of the invention is illustrated, it is not to be limited to the specific form or arrangement herein described and shown. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes may be made without departing from the scope of the invention and the invention is not to be considered limited to what is shown and described in the specification and any drawings/figures included herein.

One skilled in the art will readily appreciate that the present invention is well adapted to carry out the objectives and obtain the ends and advantages mentioned, as well as those inherent therein. The embodiments, methods, procedures and techniques described herein are presently representative of the preferred embodiments, are intended to be exemplary and are not intended as limitations on the scope. Changes therein and other uses will occur to those skilled in the art which are encompassed within the spirit of the invention and are defined by the scope of the appended claims. Although the invention has been described in connection with specific preferred embodiments, it should be understood that the invention as claimed should not be unduly limited to such specific embodiments. Indeed, various modifications of the described modes for carrying out the invention which are obvious to those skilled in the art are intended to be within the scope of the following claims. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A spinal fixation device comprising a first end, a second opposing end, and a main body there between, at least one end adapted to prevent the spinal rod from retreating into an unsecured position.
 2. The spinal fixation device according to claim 1 wherein at least one end contains a flange.
 3. The spinal fixation device according to claim 1 wherein said first and said second ends contain a flange. 